Sandip Foundation: A Proactive Interface between Industry and Institutes Date:   Friday , February 27, 2015 National Employability Report 2014 highlights that a vast majority of graduates from India may not be able to solve real world problems. The report also spells out the shortcomings of Indian institutes in coping with industry demands. Some of the areas that have been identified which are hampering the quality of higher education in India are the lack of sufficient industry-institute collaborations, unskilled faculty, non-facilitating infrastructure and bleak research which ultimately lead to poor placements. However, not all institutes are willing to bow down to this overarching scenario. An active remedy to this would be for institutes to collaborate with industries on a multi-dimensional forefront that includes live projects, placements, internships, and research. It is in this context that we hear a voice that wants to make a difference: the voice of Dr. Sandip Jha, the eminent academician who is the Chairman of Sandip Foundation, Nashik. \"We established Sandip Foundation in 2005 with a vision of creating an education system from which leaders of tomorrow emerge.\" His group of higher professional education institutes, collectively known as Sandip Foundation, focuses on research, quality, value-based education, placements and industry interaction. Located in Nashik, Maharashtra, Sandip Foundation is now famous for its service to education in the fields of Engineering, Management, Science, Arts, Pharmacy, and Polytechnic Studies. Sandip Foundation institutes relentlessly focus on providing quality education and sufficient industry interaction to its students so that as they graduate, they become industry-ready. Sandip Foundation institutes are approved by AICTE, New Delhi, and are affiliated to the University of Pune. Its world-class facilities and dynamic faculty provide the students a sound base on which they can build success stories and fill the gaps identified in the aforementioned National Employability Report. In spite of the state of the economy and the fears in industry about the dearth of skilled labour, Sandip Foundation, in a span of a few years, achieved hundred percent placements for its MBA students and over sixty percent placement for its engineering students. Placement Expertise Sandip Foundation focuses on the all-round development of its students and makes every effort towards meeting industry standards. Hence, high placement percents are nothing to wonder about. Dr. S.T. Gandhe, Principal of Sandip Institute of Technology and Research Center, highlights the remarkable placement records of the Institute when he mentions, \"It has become a common practice that students from various disciplines are placed even before the completion of their courses.\" Through MOUs with more than 30 industrial houses, Sandip Foundation provides as many opportunities as possible for students to understand the needs of the industry, through research activities, on-the-job training, practical sessions, industry visits and placements. Industry experts often visit the campus to offer their valuable insights and share their experiences with students. HR professionals from companies including Mahindra and Mahindra, Bosch, JBM, Innova Rubber, Rishab Instruments, ABB and many more provide guidelines on placements, interviews, corporate etiquettes and industry trends. No wonder, with support from its placement cell, Sandip Foundation students find their dream jobs with reputed firms including Reliance, HDFC, Bosch, HSBC, XL Dynamic, Axis Bank, IIFC, eClerx, HP Analytics, TCS, Persistent Systems, New York Bank and so on. The Foundation understands the importance providing skill-based training to its students and provides courses in SAP, Java, Android, Stock market, Entrepreneurship, Financial Planning, German language program, Excel certification, and various automation courses. Novel concepts in management for the faculty have been developed and the institute has even published a book on case studies. Another remarkable aspect is the Foundation\'s collaboration with foreign universities such as Harvard Publication House, Teesside University, UK, Aalborg University, and Strathclyde University. Sandip Foundation takes pride in its strong faculty who form its backbone. With such an experienced pool of faculty – some with over 15 years and more – the Foundation ensures that quality education is delivered across all its realms. The curricula of all the Sandip Foundation institutes stress on the right blend of theoretical knowledge with development of analytical skills, communication skills, problem-solving and teamwork abilities. Hence, case studies, industry projects, presentations, research work and role-play form an integral part of a student\'s life at Sandip Foundation. To ensure the right mentor guidance, the Institute has a program on teachers training called \'Train the Trainer\'. \"Through the \'Train the Trainer Program\', there is reassurance of hiring faculty of a set benchmark to provide the right guidance and delivery of the syllabus and curriculum,\" unveils Dr. Gandhe. Sandip Foundation organizes orientation programs for the new faculty through which they get acquainted to its culture. Before the staff take to the teaching dais, they are trained to provide the right guidance to students. The faculty members actively engage in student mentoring that ensures students get support through thick and thin. Research and Innovation Frontier In a short span of time since their establishment, institutes under Sandip Foundation have managed to create high reputation for themselves among the educational institutions in North Maharashtra region. A great proportion of the credit in achieving this feat goes to the research facilities provided at the institutes, with their research centers in business and telecommunications, approved by the University of Pune. Through world-class facilities and experienced guides, research is carried out in domains like machinery, real effects, artificial intelligence and robotics. Sandip Foundation aims at setting a benchmark in research by forging tie-ups with organizations such as Vardhaman Industries, Tushar Udyog, Aditya Foundry, Global Packaging Industries, Sumit Engineering and Constructions, Godhan Hospitals, Quality Investments and Securities, Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce Industries and Agriculture, and Mission TX technologies. The facilities in the campus at Sandip Foundation harness the progress of research on an active frontier. The institutes have state-of-the-art infrastructure with a green and self-sustained campus of 200 acres. The campus houses top Engineering colleges such as SITRC and SIEM in Nashik and has Wi-Fi, water recycling, hostel accommodation for more than 1000 students, transportation system, fully-equipped laboratories, a library with RFID technology, a computer center, and a wholesome cafeteria that forms a \'native paradise\'. Sandip Foundation has expanded its horizon with a second campus spread over a 50-acre area in Madhubani, Bihar. This campus too upholds the values and principles on which Sandip Foundation has been built. Sandip Foundation has a focused roadmap for the future. Encouraging and setting a benchmark in research, the Foundation will continue empowering students to face the challenges thrown by various industries through coaching, mentoring and industry interface. Its modern pedagogy and up-to-date curriculum, backed by infrastructure, will ensure that the Foundation will touch heights of glory in the years to come. Avid Support for Extra-Curricular Activities The management of Sandip Foundation provides numerous opportunities for students to grow outside the classroom, through a host of co-curricular and extra-curricular activities. Every year, the campus hosts a Technical Festival called \"AAYAM\", in which different events including project competition, Robo Race and Robo war are held. These events help students put the theories they learn in class to practical tests. Research orientation of the Foundation has led to a student team winning an international award in a research competition conducted by E4 India. Sandip Foundation also organizes CSR activities, Cultural Programs, and International Conferences on Computational Intelligence and Information. Dr. S.T. Gandhe He is the Principal of Sandip Institute of Technology and Research Center, is a PhD holder from VNIT, Nagpur; a member of IEEE, LMISTE; and an EXECOM Member in the IEEE Bombay Section. He has received patents for Hybrid Security System for Near Field Communication and Sustainable Picohydro Power Generation System.